Fracture reducing splint



Sept. 22-, 1936. J. E. BITTNER, JR 2,055,024

I FRACTURE REDUCING SPLINT Filed Aug. 7, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR dbJZ/ H L5 "r/wsz J2.

. ATTORNEY Sept. 22, 1936. J. E. BITTNER, JR 1 4 2,055,024-

FRAGTURE REDUCING 'SPLINT v Filed Aug. 7, 1934 2 sheetssheet 2;

Jvjj

INVENTOR JOSEPH 5/ TTNE/E Jk.

ATTORN EY Patented Sept. 22, 1936 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRACTURE REDUCING SPLINT Joseph E. Bittner, Jr., Yakima, Wash. Application August 7, 1934, Serial No. 738,782

3 Claims. (01. '12s s) This invention relates to fracture reducing splints, and it has reference more particularly to splints designed for the reduction of fractures of the bones of the legs or arms of the human body; it being the principal object of this invention to provide an improved form of splint, designed to effect reduction, through skeletal attachment "permit relative rotation of the two traction members when applied to the fractured bone, as well "as angular adjustment thereof thereby to pro- "vide for any'adjustment that is required to perf'ect alinement of the fractured parts.

,Another object of this invention is to provide a splint that is exceedingly light in weight; that is 'rigid and substantial in use; and which gives an abundance of clearance about the limb to which it is applied, thus permitting easy application of dressings, casts, or the like, and does not interfere with the taking of X-ray pictures or in fluoroscopic viewing of the fracture.

i More specifically stated, the objects of thepresent invention reside in' the provision of a splint of the character above stated comprising two :limb encircling frames,spaced apart by extendllble'rods through which the forces are applied ;for effecting the reduction; the frames being designed for mounting .traction'wires thereacross whereby direct skeletal attachment is made with the parts of the fractured bone.

Other objects of the invention reside in the specific details'of construction of the frames to .provide for easy application of the splint and for placing a necessary tension on the traction wires that are mounted thereby; also in the details of construction of the rods and the manner of mounting them to permit rotation and angular adjustment of the fractured parts of the bone to which the frames are attached.

Still other objects of the invention reside in the details of construction and in the combination 'of the'various parts, as will hereinafter be described.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, where- [in- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the splint embodied by the present invention, as applied toa limb in the reduction of a fracture.

view of a wire anchoring to its being applied to a limb. 5

Fig. 3 is an end View of the splint, particularly illustrating the hinging of the two half sectionsof the circular end frame and the location of the frame spreading nut whereby tension is'applied to the traction wire mounted diametrically across the frame.

Fig. 4 is a crosssectional detail on line4-4 .in Fig. 3, showing the construction of a wire attaching clamp.

Fig. 5 is a cross section-on line 5--5 in Fig.3.

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail illustrating the construction of one of the frame spacing rods and its end mountings.

Fig. '7 isa side View of a splint, illustrating the relative rotation of the opposite end frames.

Fig. 8 is a similar view illustrating relative angular adjustment of the end frames.

Referring more in detail to the drawings- In a preferred formof construction, the present splint comprises opposite end frames -l--Iw,'- respectively. Each of these frames-is circular in form and of a size sufiicient to encircle the limb to which it is applied with ample clearance for application of dressings, casts, or the like, to the 'to be opened apart from the closed position, as

seen in Fig. 1, to the open position in which they are shown in Fig. 2. When a-frame is closed,'the free end of one of the semicircular sectionsfits between spaced extensions 4--4 at the corresponding end of the other section thus to retain these disconnectible ends rigidly in alinement. Also there is an expanding nut 5 fixed on a bolt 6 which is threaded through a lug 1 at the free end of one semicircular section and seated pivotally at one end in a socket 8 of a lug 9 on the end of the other section. This construction provides that the bolt 6 may be rotated by the nut in a manner to extend it and thus spread the free ends of the ring sections apart. This expansion, as will presently be explained, applies tension to the wire which is drawn diametrically across the frame, with its opposite ends attached, respectively,'to the opposite sections of the ring. The two frame rings I and la, in use, are" held in spaced relation by a plurality of cross rods extended therebetween at equally spaced intervals about the frame. Each of these cross rods comprises a tubular end section H and an extending threaded section [2 telescopically applied thereto. The tubular section is provided at its outer end with a. ball l3 revolubly fitted in a socket l4 provided therefor in the ring I the ball being held in place in the socket by an overlying clamp plate l5 secured by bolts I6 and I1 extending through its opposite ends and threaded into' the ring. It is desirable that the bolt l6 be headed for wrench adjustment, while,

the bolt ll be provided with a thumb nut na whereby it may be more quickly adjusted. The threaded sections of the severalconnecting rods are provided at their outer ends with flattened reduced portion [8 designed to; loosely seat within sockets 19 provided therefor in the inside face of the ring la. These latter sockets are'provided in their bases with slots I9a through the ring to receive the flattened extensions I8 to prevent .rotation of the threaded rods, and these sockets are located in close relation about the ring.

The threaded section of each extension rod is adjustable within the tubular section to extend or decrease the spacing of the circular frames 1 and la and the amount of extension of each threaded rod is effected and is retained by a nut 20 mounted thereon for abutment against the end of the tubular section. Also look nuts 2! arethreaded on each of the threaded sections of .rod for tightening against the adjusting nuts to hold them against turning and thereby positively fix the amount of extension of the splint.

For the purpose of making skeletal attach- "ment to a fractured bone, I have provided Wires 25, which, as previously mentioned, are mounted diametrically across the circular frames, and which are passed directly through the bone of the limb at opposite sides of the fracture to be reduced. These wires are secured at their ends tothe frames by clamping bolts 24. These bolts are extended through apertures provided therefor in the rings and they have apertures 26 just below their head portions 24a through which the ends of the wires are extended, and nuts 30 are threaded onto the bolts to effect the clamping of the wire between the heads and side face of the ring.

"In using the splint, the wires 25, are first passed through the bone at opposite sides of the fracture, then the ring I, which has the cross rods'attached thereto, is applied about the limb and the ends of the wire secured thereto by the .clamping bolts 24. After the ends' of the wire have been secured, tension is then applied to the wire by rotation of the frame expanding nut 5 which effects an outward adjustmentrof the two sections of the circular frame, whereby the wire is placed under sufficient tension that it cannot possibly bend and by so doing cut into the bone. Then the frame section Id is opened apart, as shown in Fig. 2, and is applied about the limb and the ends thereof brought together to close the frame for the attachment of the ends of the other wire thereto in the same manner, as above described. The extension rods are then adjusted to seat their reduced ends within selected sockets l9 provided therefor in the ring la. Then by tightening the nuts'20 on the threaded rods up against the ends of the tubular portions, the two frames may be forcibly spaced apart to apply the traction forces to the fractured bone. When the extension has reduced the fracture, the limb may be X-rayed or viewed by fluoroscope to determine whether or not the fractured parts are in proper alinement, and if extension is sufficient. If they are not in alinement one of the frame members may be rotated relative to the other to correct the alinement, as is illustrated in Fig. 7, or if it should be required to straighten the bone, or for other reasons, the frames may be adjusted to definite angular relationship by the extension of one or more rods beyondthe extension of the others, as illustrated in Fig. 8.

After the fracture has been properly reduced the clamping plates l5, previously loosened, overlying the ball ends of the rods, are tightened down by wrench application to bolts [6, so that all partsv are held rigidly and securely against further rotative, or lateral movement.

It is apparentthat by providing the ring la. with the closely located sockets for the ends of the extension rods, these rods may be set in the frame substantially perpendicular thereto regardless of the angular relationship that the wires may have. When a cast is to be appliedto the limb, it is desirable to apply anchors to the wires close to opposite sides of the limb thus to prevent the limb slipping laterally along the Wire. These, as shown in Fig. 1a, are held at set positions by clamp screws 35a tightened against the wire. 7 V e 7' A The features of this splint construction reside in its simplicity; in the ease with which it may .be applied tothe wires secured in the frames and placed under tension also, it is apparent that the adjustability of the connecting rods provides for a considerable amount of extension and the mechanical application of forces to the extent necessary forthe proper reduction of any fracture.

Another feature of theinvention resides in the fact that after the reduction has been properly made, and while the .limb is still held in the splint, a cast may be applied about the'li'mb. In so doing, the anchors 35 are embedded in the cast and serve as anchor members which effectively anchor the wires in the cast. With the Wires anchored in this manner, the splint may be removed and the cast then operates to prevent any contraction of the limb or mis-alinement of the fractured parts. 'When it is desiredto change the cast, the splint may again be applied to the limb and the'wires again secured therein, and the'limb, by means of the splint, held against contraction or movement during the removing and replacing of casts.

Having thus ,describedmy invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is- '1. In a splint of the character described, a pair of opposite end frames, rods adjustably spacing said frames; each of said frames being of circular form and composed of opposite side sections, with ends'pivotally joined and having disconnected opposite ends,'means on said opposite side sections for mounting the ends of a traction wire, across the frame, and an expand- 65 ing means between'the disconnected ends of the sections for applying tension tothe wire.

2. A splint of the characterdescribed, comprising a pair of spaced, circular frames forming a rolling support for a limb encircled thereby;

controlled expansion of the'frames, thereby to each frame comprising movably connected com place the wire under tension, and rods extended between the frames, and extendable in length to eifect the application of tractive forces for reduction of a fracture.

3. A splint of the character described, comprising a pair of spaced, circular frames, each frame comprising two semi-circular sections with ends at one side of the frame pivotally joined together, and the ends at the other side slidably 10 engaged for an opening and closing movement,

a clamp member on each of the sections of the frame for securing thereinthe opposite ends of a wire, expanding screws joining the slidably enaged ends of the sections for placing the wires under adjustable tension, and rods connecting the two frame sections, and adjustable in length for controlling the spacing and angular relationship of the frames.

JOSEPH E. BI'I'I'NER, JR. 

